Apple acquires Faceshift, makers of motion capture tech that was used in Star Wars

Apple has acquired yet another company that specialises in motion capture technology. Faceshift, has been working on automating motion capture for quite some time now and the fruits of its research and labour are also visible in the gaming and the movie making business. As of now Apple (as usual) has not disclosed the reason as to why it acquired Faceshift. TechCrunch got a response stating that the company always acquires smaller technology companies from time to time and they usually do not discuss the same with the public. As mentioned above, the potential of motion capture is huge and can be associated with a number of industries including business and security. While the company did help LucasFilms work with the facial expressions of some aliens in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, it’s basically the fact about how easy Faceshift has made motion capture that is the highlight here. Even in gaming, it’s now possible to add some facial expressions to your characters with the help of Faceshift’s tools. So the possibility of Apple using these in its products is immense, especially when it comes to security. Earlier motion capture methods required the use of markers on the model’s face, which was lengthy and cumbersome process. Faceshift’s technology is based on real-time animation and does not need markers to be placed accurately, making it easier to set up and easier for the actor as well, cutting down the time frames needed to record the same.

We wonder where Faceshift would find its application within the ecosystem. Give the range of projects Apple is currently working on, it could vary from a vague feature in the next iOS, to a feature in its new iPad Pro involving creative professionals, to even a technological feature in its reported driverless car project to detect gait and humans around the vehicle. We’d continue to follow this space closely!